Premium Partners SCM

Gartner’s survey analysis: Women in Supply Chain 2016

Gartner’s first Women in Supply Chain Survey, conducted with AWESOME, an executive women’s leadership group, and supported by Supply Chain Media, compares the representation of women in supply chain leadership roles. It also identifies practices that are increasing the engagement with and success of women in supply chain organizations.

Key Findings

■ The percentage of women in leadership positions decreases as the corporate ladder rises. Industrial manufacturers have noticeably lower representation than other sectors.

■ Fewer than half of respondents report that their companies have goals of attracting, retaining and promoting more women into supply chain leadership roles.

■ Supply-chain-specific initiatives are nascent, with many supply chain organizations relying on corporate initiatives to improve representation of women.

Recommendations

■ Increase numbers of women at entry levels via stronger recruitment practices. Build integrated pipelines and leadership program infrastructure in the middle to support the all-important jumps from director to VP and from VP to chief supply chain officer (CSCO).

■ If there is an institutional goal to advance women in supply chain, upgrade existing talent practices and ensure that the message and impact are received at all levels.

■ Set specific goals that articulate a concrete result. To meet the aspirations identified in this research, we need to see more formal goals and targets on management scorecards, supported by corresponding pipeline planning, recruitment and development initiatives within supply chain organizations.